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DART Aerospace, a Hawkesbury, Ont.-based producer and manufacturer of helicopter equipment, is nearing certification of the Bell 505 Bearpaws, and it is now accepting pre-orders.
For as long as helicopters have been in operation, soft terrain landings have created balancing problems during take off and landings. DART Aerospace Bearpaws are constructed of a high density polymer that resists cracking, chipping and breaking.
The one-piece machined construction ensures consistent and deliberate load transfer. This flexible material deflects under high-point contact loads when landing on rocks or roots; its inherent memory ensures the Bearpaws return to their original shape upon take off.
“The 505 Bearpaw is similar in design and construction to our other Bearpaw models–it connects to the back of the skidtube in order to keep the helicopter tail up and off the ground and support the aircraft in soft surface terrain. We are excited to be supplying this Bearpaw for a new aircraft such as the Bell 505, especially as operators begin using this model in the utility market,” said Harvey Siemens, director of engineering for DART Aerospace.
With over 54 different Bearpaws approved on 37 separate STCs, DART’s Bell 505 Bearpaw should receive a Transport Canada certification that is expected by this calendar year end, with other regulatory approvals following shortly.
